Whiteley ‘the obvious choice’

TELLS WIFE FIRST: LIONS CAPTAIN GETS CALL FROM BOK COACH

‘Warren has walked the walk and he will be the glue to stick the team together.’

The appointment of Lions skipper Warren Whiteley yesterday as the new Springbok captain for next month’s French series was a “logical” choice for national coach Allister Coetzee. The 29-year-old Whiteley, who has played 15 Tests, was named as the 58th Bok skipper, replacing Adriaan Strauss, who retired at the end of last year.

“What people don’t often realise is that Warren was already captain last year when Adriaan wasn’t on the field,” said Coetzee.

“Warren has walked the walk and he will be the glue to stick the team together with the aid of the experienced members in the side. The Bok captain always faces a bigger challenge because we live in a unique country with unique challenges. That’s the type of person Warren is because he walked a long road. He has resilience and can dig deep.”

An ecstatic Whiteley said that after Coetzee informed him on Monday night of his decision, he first had to break the news to his wife, Felicity.

“Coach said I must just go home and chat to my wife in my own time but I kind of kept it to myself. With the little one running around there’s not really any chance. So I put [TV show] Peppa Pig on and let her watch that to get my wife’s attention. I told her coach had asked me. She was quite shocked but we were just really grateful.” Whiteley said he wouldn’t have become the new skipper had it not been for the success he achieved with the Lions. “It’s a stepping stone I believe, I don’t think this would have materialised if I hadn’t been there and been so successful the last couple of years,” said Whiteley. “Lot of players

and management to thank. None of this would have happened just by myself.” – See page 40